Am I being an idiot getting a dog?

[teenytinypuppy]

Apologies if this is long..

I've been wanting to get a puppy/dog for a long time, seriously thinking about it for about a year. I've done a lot of research on types of dogs, and I think I have seriously considered the effect it will have on my lifestyle. I live in a decent sized house with a medium garden and a big field out back, in a little village in the countryside. Lots of woods/beaches nearby. I am a lone parent with a 4 year old DS who is used to dogs from his fathers side. I am aware that I cannot leave the puppy alone at all and that I can't go on nights out etc for a long while. I don't work at the moment, but will be aiming to start part time work soon after the new year (or a few months after if I do get a puppy so it can settle etc). I rent but I have permission from my landlady to get a puppy.

On the flip side, my entire family thinks I am nuts and that I am making a mistake. I have never owned a dog before. I don't have a shedload of disposable income right now, but I have taken into account when I do start work I will pay for doggy day care/dog walker/insurance etc.

Is there anything I should know that I may not have considered? I consider myself to be pretty responsible, I've raised DS so far on my own so I don't think its a giant leap to think I could raise a dog too! I'm not sure why everyone thinks I'm being stupid. It has compelled me to come on here to ask opinions because if I do make the choice to get one, I really really never want to have to give the dog up or anything. I want it to be for life so I'd love to have all the information I can get!

Any advice or thoughts would be wonderfully helpful. Also, Ive not settled on a breed yet so any suggestions would be nice :)

Exactly!

Just to show how lovely beagles are though,here is my old boy snoopy cuddled up with my autistic son,he loved him to bits,beagles LOVE children! (Despite some never owned a beagles people who think they are not family dogs-they're used to being in large packs fgs of course they love being part of a family as opposed to being with just one person!!!)

Every breed will have a trait that some could view as 'bad' like yappiness, aloofness, high prey drive, noise sensitivity, strong willed etc but they can usually managed.

teeny - my friend has just got a 'failed' guide dog - would that interest you? About 18 months old, generally labs or retrievers with hours of training put into them. Her one just can't resist the urge to nick food which obviously wouldn't work with a blind owner. Other reasons are too playful (they shouldn't even look when they see another dog, a rabbit etc) or if the dog has allergies (a blind person would find it hard to be sure that the dog has eaten their medication.) She had to have a home visit and, I think, paid £300 for the dog.

info here

Mine is a German shorthaired pointer. He is the most adorable thing ever .

Hope Rescue Daisy

Four Paws Tigger

My cutie asleep on me.

Basset hounds are lovely (I have two!) but because the puppies are so gorgeous, they're a major breed for puppy farmers, and if you don't do the health checks and know bloodlines, you can end up dealing with endless health problems. Unfortunately, Wales is a real hotspot for puppy farms, selling pups for a few hundred quid when they should really be nearer £800. There's always breed rescue? They're brilliant family dogs, but somewhat challenging to train, quite large, and not exactly portable.

I was going to suggest Hope Rescue too - they often have puppies in, and are very nice people. Or (sorry, this is a bit of an MN Doghouse cliche, but for a good reason!) have you thought about rehoming a retired greyhound? Gentle, easy-going, people-friendly...?